9 finest gaming PCs for 2024: examined and reviewed

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By Calvin S. Nelson


There are some nice gaming PCs on the market, however solely a choose few could make it among the many checklist of one of the best gaming desktops. We have reviewed dozens of gaming PCs from manufacturers like Lenovo, Alienware, Acer, and Origin, and we’re right here to rank our favourite ones.

In 2024, we nonetheless suggest the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i because of its improbable design, strong efficiency, and respectable worth. Nonetheless, there are a number of different choices relying in your wants and price range.


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Lenovo Legion Tower 7i

The most effective gaming PC you should buy

Execs

  • Flagship 4K gaming efficiency
  • Help for DLSS 3
  • Totally upgradable
  • Modern, engaging design

Cons

  • RAM runs at slower velocity
  • McAfee continues to bother

Why you should purchase this: It is a moderately priced gaming PC with flagship {hardware}, and it is absolutely open for upgrades.

Who it is for: PC avid gamers who need a high-end expertise in 2023 and the chance to improve sooner or later.

What we considered the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i:

The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i is proof that purchasing a prebuilt gaming desktop does not need to imply sacrificing high quality. It packs in Nvidia’s RTX 4080 together with an Intel Core i7-13700KF processor, providing a few of the quickest {hardware} you should buy at this time, and it performs in addition to its spec sheet would recommend.

In our evaluation, we discovered that the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i was a hair sooner than a customized PC with the identical elements, so you are not leaving any efficiency on the desk by going prebuilt. You are free to swap out elements, too. Not like desktops from Alienware and another distributors, the Tower 7i makes use of standard-sized components so you possibly can swap out no matter you need.

That is all nice, however the actual purpose we’re recommending the Tower 7i is its value. The configuration we reviewed, which comes with an RTX 4080 and Intel Core i7-13700KF, runs $2,900. That is costly, however it’s only some hundred {dollars} greater than in the event you purchased all of the components your self and pieced them collectively by yourself. And for that upcharge, you are getting a yr of Lenovo’s Legion Final help, which incorporates next-business-day restore, in addition to a 24/7 help contact.

Since our evaluation, Lenovo has launched some cheaper fashions as effectively. Now you can get the machine for round $2,050 with an Intel Core i7-13700KF and RTX 4070 Ti GPU.

It is easy to suggest the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i in 2024, however it nonetheless has one downside. Lenovo marketed 5,200 megatransfer per second (MT/s) reminiscence, however it’s solely set as much as run at 4,400 MT/s out of the field. That may result in decrease efficiency in some choose purposes, however fortunately, you possibly can crank up the reminiscence velocity in a few clicks.

Lenovo Legion Tower 7i

Lenovo Legion Tower 7i

The most effective gaming PC you should buy

origin neuron 2021 review 12

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Origin Neuron

The most effective customized gaming PC

Execs

  • Wonderful cable administration and design
  • Minimal bloatware
  • Lifetime 24/7 help
  • Nice CPU, GPU, and motherboard choices
  • Simple to improve

Cons

  • Costly
  • Few non-Corsair half choices
  • Restricted entrance panel ports

Why you should purchase this: The Origin Neuron comes with wonderful construct high quality and extremely customizable elements.

Who’s it for: Players trying to customise their very own PC with out moving into constructing.

What we considered the Origin Neuron:

There is not any scarcity of PC builders that use elements you should buy and put collectively your self, however Origin nonetheless manages to face out. You should buy and construct an actual duplicate of the Origin Neuron, however Origin’s cautious consideration to element, deep customization choices, and wonderful help make an argument to not.

Corsair owns Origin, so the Neuron comes fitted with Corsair elements throughout the board. That is an excellent factor on this case, as Corsair makes a few of the finest PC followers, energy provides, and RAM modules you should buy. All of those first-party elements give the Neuron a cohesive really feel, freed from software program conflicts that might mess up your RGB lighting.

You’ll be able to construct the machine precisely the way you need, too. Origin affords the most recent CPUs from AMD and Intel, in addition to the most recent GPUs from Nvidia and AMD. Past that, you possibly can tweak every little thing else — energy provide score, reminiscence velocity, you identify it.

The Neuron is costlier than a mainstream PC just like the Omen 45L. That more money buys you higher construct high quality, extra flexibility, and a few trendy furnishings. Out of all the customized PC builds you should buy, the Origin Neuron is our favourite.

Origin Neuron

Origin Neuron

The most effective customized gaming PC

alienware aurora r16 review 15

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Alienware Aurora R16

The most effective Alienware gaming PC

Execs

  • A lot smaller than earlier variations
  • Cool and quiet throughout operation
  • A number of configuration choices
  • Competitively priced

Cons

  • Alienware Command Middle is a bit annoying
  • CPU lacks built-in graphics and overclocking help

Why you should purchase this: It is an Alienware gaming PC constructed for the on a regular basis gamer

Who’s it for: PC avid gamers who need loads of flexibility of their construct and needn’t service their PC.

What we considered the Alienware Aurora R16:

Alienware has a popularity downside, however the brand new Aurora R16 makes an attempt to repair that. It is the primary time Alienware has deserted the angular Aurora design we have seen for the previous a number of generations, as an alternative counting on a smaller mid-tower chassis that is simply as highly effective, however takes up loads much less area.

It is available in cheaper, as effectively. A part of the rationale Alienware desktops have a little bit of a nasty identify is their value, however the Aurora R16 begins at simply $1,300 for an Intel Core i7-13700F, RTX 4060 graphics card, 16GB of DDR5 reminiscence, and a 1TB SSD. You’ll be able to scale that up with the identical processor, reminiscence, and storage, however with an RTX 4070 Ti, for $1,950.

Alienware upgraded the internals loads, however it’s the outside of this machine that stands out. It is round half the dimensions of the earlier model, all with out compromising energy or thermals. By the top of the yr, Alienware says it is going to be its quickest desktop ever, packing as much as an RTX 4090.

Alienware Aurora R16

Alienware Aurora R16

The most effective Alienware gaming PC

acer predator orion 7000 review 8

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Acer Predator Orion 7000

The most effective high-end gaming PC

Execs

  • Runs cool and quiet
  • Vibrant, vibrant RGB lighting
  • Wonderful 4K gaming efficiency
  • Nice connectivity choices
  • Scorching-swappable SSD bay

Cons

  • Costly
  • Upgrades might be irritating
  • A great deal of bloatware

Why you should purchase this: It is a improbable and upgradeable high-end desktop that may maintain up for years.

Who’s it for: Fans that need a fantastic start line to improve their gaming PC sooner or later.

What we considered the Acer Predator Orion 7000:

The Acer Predator Orion 7000 is a gaming PC in each sense of the phrase. Its design screams that with shiny RGB followers and an aggressive design that makes it clear this can be a machine constructed for gaming. Fortunately, it has the efficiency and thermals to again up its clear design affect.

It packs last-gen elements, however they’re nonetheless highly effective. You’ll be able to rating as much as an Intel Core i9-12900K and RTX 3090 graphics card, and we count on a next-gen improve quickly. Acer only in the near past up to date its Predator laptops, so a desktop makeover ought to come quickly.

Even this mannequin holds up effectively in 2024, although. The elements are nonetheless very highly effective, and the design of the case makes fast work of all the warmth these high-end elements can spit out.

Acer Predator Orion 7000 PO7-650-UR11 Gaming Desktop | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700KF 16-Core | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 | 32GB DDR5 | 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD | 2TB HDD | Intel WiFi 6E | RGB Keyboard & Mouse

Acer Predator Orion 7000

The most effective high-end gaming PC

falcon northwest tiki review 2022 08

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Falcon Northwest Tiki

The most effective gaming PC for the lounge

Execs

  • Blazing 4K gaming efficiency
  • Implausible thermal design
  • High-notch construct high quality
  • Accessible upgrades
  • Customary three-year guarantee
  • Restricted fan noise

Cons

  • Restricted Intel configurations

Why you should purchase this: It is smaller than a gaming console and packs high-end PC {hardware}.

Who’s it for: Front room avid gamers on the lookout for a high-end gaming PC that does not take up loads of area.

What we considered the Falcon Northwest Tiki:

The Falcon Northwest Tiki is the right small kind issue gaming PC. Similar to the Talon, the Tiki stands out with distinctive construct high quality, clear consideration to element, and help that places main PC producers to disgrace. It is costly, however Falcon Northwest makes each penny really feel value it.

For measurement, the Tiki is the smallest gaming PC you should buy absolutely configured. However Falcon Northwest does not sacrifice efficiency within the course of. The newest model helps as much as a Ryzen 9 7950X or Intel Core i9-14900, together with an RTX 4080. You can even add as much as 8TB of NVMe storage, which is insane contemplating the Tiki’s measurement.

Often, a smaller measurement comes at the price of thermals and noise, however not with the Tiki. It manages to remain cooler and quieter than many mid-sized desktops (learn our Asus ProArt PD5 evaluation for an instance of dangerous thermals on a desktop).

Falcon Northwest is without doubt one of the few boutique PC builders left, and the Tiki is an ideal showcase for what that mannequin can obtain. It is an exception PC total, and it is much more spectacular contemplating it is smaller than a PlayStation 5.

Falcon Northwest Tiki

Falcon Northwest Tiki

The most effective gaming PC for the lounge

dell xps desktop 8960 review 11

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Dell XPS Desktop (8960)

The gaming PC for distant employees

Execs

  • Flagship efficiency
  • Understated, engaging design
  • Comparatively quiet
  • Strong port choice

Cons

  • Restricted improve potential
  • Costly

Why you should purchase this: The Dell XPS Desktop 8650 does not appear like a gaming PC, however it comes with the proper {hardware} to run the most recent titles.

Who’s it for: Distant employees who want an expert PC throughout the day and a gaming PC at evening.

What we considered the Dell XPS Desktop 8960:

If you wish to decide up a gaming desktop, however you are not thinking about studying about upgrading or tricking it out with RGB, the Dell XPS 8960 Desktop is a superb possibility. It is a stealth gaming PC that appears like an workplace desktop on the surface, however hides a few of the strongest elements you should buy inside.

You’ll be able to’t improve main elements within the Dell XPS Desktop, which is sort of at all times a draw back. However you possibly can at the very least trick out this PC with as much as an Intel Core i9-13900 and Nvidia RTX 4080. You’ll be able to even configure it with liquid cooling.

Configurations begin as little as $750, with the primary configuration with a discrete graphics card coming in at round $1,100. You are giving up all the trimmings that make a gaming PC appear like one, however in the event you’re content material to recycle your PC and improve just a few years down the road, that is not an enormous deal.

Though the XPS Desktop can match into any workplace setting, we’re recommending it particularly for distant employees. You won’t need to ask your boss to invoice an RGB-ridden gaming behemoth; the XPS Desktop is rather more affordable, and it nonetheless has sufficient muscle for gaming after hours.

Dell XPS Desktop (8960)

Dell XPS Desktop (8960)

The gaming PC for distant employees

NZXT Streaming Plus BLD PC Kit.

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NZXT Streaming Plus BLD Equipment

The most effective DIY gaming desktop

Execs

  • Highly effective
  • Cheap
  • Consists of all of the instruments you should construct your individual PC

Cons

  • PC constructing is not for everybody
  • Restricted customization choices

Why we selected this: The NZXT BLD Equipment means that you can dip your toes into constructing a customized gaming PC and avoid wasting cash within the course of.

Who’s it for: Hobbyists who need to get into constructing PCs however do not know the place to start out.

What we considered the NZXT BLD Equipment:

NZXT has a special strategy to gaming desktops. As an alternative of transport you a prebuilt machine, you get all the elements, instruments, and an instruction guide to construct the PC your self. And don’t be concerned – you get all of that at a reduction in comparison with getting a machine already constructed for you.

The BLD kits provide nice worth, and NZXT has a number of out there. We’re recommending the Streaming Plus package, which comes fitted with an eight-core Ryzen 7 5700X processor, an Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. General, the package is about $200 than searching for the most affordable components your self, quite than the wherever from $500 to $1,000 that manufacturers often cost as a constructing payment.

If you cannot be bothered, NZXT additionally affords its customized BLD program. Not like most system builders, NZXT prices a flat $110 constructing payment. In any other case, you are paying the very same value for the elements that you’d in the event you purchased them individually.

PC constructing is not for everybody, however NZXT’s BLD program affords an economical and easy approach to get into the pastime.

NZXT Streaming Plus BLD Kit

NZXT Streaming Plus BLD Equipment

The most effective DIY gaming desktop

msi aegis rs 12 review 19

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MSI Aegis RS 12

The most effective gaming PC for rookies

Execs

  • Cheaper than constructing your self
  • All MSI elements
  • Dense, shiny RGB lighting
  • Wonderful gaming and processor efficiency
  • Implausible connectivity and growth choices

Cons

  • Poor cable administration
  • Twist ties used for some cables
  • Case is not one of the best

Why we selected this: It is a no-fuss, highly effective gaming PC that will not break the financial institution.

Who’s it for: PC avid gamers who need a highly effective PC and needn’t fiddle with upgrades.

What we considered the MSI Aegis RS 12:

The MSI Aegis RS 12 is an ideal gaming PC in the event you needn’t mess with upgrades. You’ll be able to improve it, however its poor cable administration and lack of a case do not lend themselves effectively to DIY tweaks. Fortunately, you needn’t make them. There’s loads of energy underneath the hood of the Aegis, and at an inexpensive value.

The final time we appeared on the machine, it was sporting Intel’s Twelfth-gen processors, however MSI has not too long ago up to date it with Intel Thirteenth-gen CPUs and Nvidia RTX 40-series GPUs. You’ll be able to pack in as much as an Intel Core i7-13700KF and Nvidia RTX 4080, together with 32GB of RAM.

What’s shocking is the worth. That configuration may simply run $4,000 or extra with different manufacturers, however MSI prices round $3,000 – close to the identical value as constructing your individual. Should you leap right down to an RTX 4070 Ti, it can save you nearly $1,000, too.

On high of that, MSI features a offered gaming keyboard and mouse within the field. They are not top-tier peripherals, however they’re greater than sufficient to get rookies began with PC gaming.

MSI Aegis RS 13 gaming desktop

MSI Aegis RS 12

The most effective gaming PC for rookies

CLX Hathor PC sitting on a coffee table.

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CLX Hathor

The most effective twin gaming PC

Execs

  • Lovely design and construct high quality
  • Two PCs within the measurement of 1 case
  • Flagship {hardware} help

Cons

  • Very costly
  • Twin PCs aren’t required for most individuals

Why we selected this: It is a monster gaming PC that pulls double obligation.

Who’s it for: Streamers who want a twin PC setup however haven’t got the area for 2 PCs.

What we considered the CLX Hathor:

What’s higher than one monster gaming PC? Two, clearly. The CLX Hathor is insane, packing two full PCs right into a single case. One if a high-end gaming rig match with one of many newest CPUs from AMD or Intel, together with one of many newest graphics playing cards from AMD or Nvidia. The second is an Intel NUC that pull light-weight obligation so you do not have to lavatory down one machine.

CLX means that you can customise nearly each side of the PC, as effectively. There are the core elements like your GPU, CPU, and RAM, however you possibly can even tweak your cooler, a number of storage choices, and even customise the Lian Li case the PC ships in.

It is a superb PC, assuming you want all the energy it affords. The Hathor begins at $4,100, and it solely goes up from there. It is a high-end PC for high-end streamers, who want a secondary PC holding the work of streaming so your fundamental PC can give attention to gaming.

CLX Hathor

CLX Hathor

The most effective twin gaming PC

Often Requested Questions

PC vs. laptop computer for gaming

Whilst you can play on the go together with a gaming laptop computer outfitted with a discrete graphics card, a gaming desktop will ship extra flexibility, energy, and efficiency for severe avid gamers. With more room inside a desktop tower, thermal administration is usually higher, which ends up in stronger graphics and processing efficiency with out the worry of throttling.

One other advantage of going with a desktop is that there’s more room to carry out upgrades sooner or later, so you possibly can add extra reminiscence or storage, swap out your graphics card, and improve your motherboard and processor down the highway. When searching for a gaming desktop, it’s best to search for key options like upgradability, expandability, and help for the most recent protocols, like Thunderbolt 3, which may assist prolong the lifetime of your funding.

What’s one of the best gaming PC for rookies?

The most effective gaming PC for rookies is the HP Omen 30L or 45L. These two machines reside in the identical household, and the 30L is barely smaller than the 45L. We suggest them for rookies as a result of they arrive with the most recent, strongest elements, they’re available, they usually’re straightforward to improve.

For configurations, you need to take note of the GPU and CPU. For rookies, we suggest the Nvidia RTX 3060 for 1080p gameplay, paired with both an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i5-12600K.

Players may even need to have sufficient RAM — we propose at the very least 16GB of reminiscence — and quick storage. Furthermore, taking the dual-drive route means you needn’t spend money on an costly solid-state drive with giant storage. This lets you pair a extra modest-capacity SSD with a bigger laborious drive to retailer all the massive media libraries to your recreation.

Can gaming PCs be used for work?

Most positively. Producers like HP acknowledge that avid gamers do not simply play video games — workplace employees need to keep entertained throughout their downtime, too. All that is wanted to play video games is a succesful processor, a robust sufficient discrete graphics card, and sufficient reminiscence to maintain your entire system operating easily.

Should you’re wanting to economize by utilizing one desktop for gaming and to your productiveness duties, you may need to select a PC or top-of-the-line laptops with extra understated aesthetics that may mix in higher together with your workplace decor. After you have the proper PC chosen, simply select just a few video games and have enjoyable.

Is PC gaming dying?

Completely not. With gross sales of general-purpose desktops stagnating in recent times, producers like HP and Lenovo are investing extra sources into their gaming manufacturers to gas progress.

With new {hardware} options supported on gaming PCs — from VR and augmented actuality to real-time ray tracing — builders may have loads of new applied sciences to leverage with a purpose to inform visually participating tales by their video games.

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